Gaming system, a gaming device, a bonus controller, and a method of gaming

ABSTRACT

A gaming system comprising, a bonus controller arranged to make an award, the award having at least one associated game parameter which specifies at least one game round; and a gaming device in data communication with the bonus controller, the gaming device adapted to receive the game parameters and to provide the award to a player of the gaming device by conducting each at least one game round specified by the at least one game parameter to determine a game outcome without requiring a further bet to be placed by the player.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority to AustralianProvisional Patent Application No. 2007904386, filed on Aug. 15, 2007,entitled “A Gaming System, a Gaming Device, a Bonus Controller, and aMethod of Gaming”, which is herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety.

FIELD

The present invention relates to a gaming system, a gaming device, abonus controller, and a method of gaming.

BACKGROUND

Gaming machines at some venues are linked via a network to a playerloyalty system that tracks play by a player and makes an award to theplayer based on game play, for example based on the number of gamesplayed or amount wagered. To implement the player tracking system, aplayer marketing module (PMM) is connected to the gaming machine whichincludes a card reader for reading a player tracking card. While aplayer's card is inserted in the reader, data is transferred from thegaming machine by the PMM to the player tracking system and reconciledwith the player's account, for example by awarding loyalty points to theplayer. A display of the PMM displays the points that are awarded to theplayer. Typically such points can be redeemed later by the player, forexample for complimentary food and drink or merchandise, by presentingthe player loyalty card.

In some cases the player loyalty system is arranged to award promotionalprizes to player's connected to the loyalty system. Promotional prizescan be awarded as credits which are paid, via the PMM, into the gamingmachine as either promotional credits or cashable credits.

There is an unmet need for an alternative technique for making an awardto a player.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect, the invention provides a gaming system including:

-   -   a bonus controller arranged to make an award, the award having        at least one associated game parameter which specifies at least        one game round; and    -   a gaming device in data communication with the bonus controller,        the gaming device adapted to receive the game parameters and to        provide the award to a player of the gaming device by conducting        each at least one game round specified by the at least one game        parameter to determine a game outcome without requiring a        further bet to be placed by the player.

In an embodiment, the at least one game parameter includes a number ofgame rounds.

In an embodiment, the at least one game parameter includes a game type.

In an embodiment, at least one game parameter includes at least one betparameter.

In an embodiment, the at least one bet parameter is determined from atleast one prior bet made on the gaming device.

In an embodiment, the at least one bet parameter is determined from abet made on an immediate past game played on the gaming device.

In an embodiment, the at least one bet parameter is determined from betsmade on a plurality of games played on the gaming device.

In an embodiment, the gaming device is arranged to advise the bonuscontroller when all game rounds specified by the game parameters havebeen completed.

In an embodiment, the gaming device advises the bonus controller of atleast one outcome of all game rounds.

In an embodiment, the at least one outcome includes at least one of acost of the game rounds and an amount of credits won during the gamerounds.

In an embodiment, the gaming device includes a promotional meter andcredits spent during the game rounds are recorded as promotional creditswhereby any win amounts awarded as the award do not affect the gamingdevices return to player.

In an embodiment, the game outcomes are provided to a further externaldevice.

In an embodiment, the further external device is a jackpot controllerand the game outcomes are used to determine a jackpot outcome.

In an embodiment, the further external device is a player loyaltysystem.

In an embodiment, the gaming system includes a plurality of gamingdevices, each in data communication with the bonus controller.

In an embodiment, the bonus controller is arranged to monitor the gamingdevice and determine whether to make the award based on game play on thegaming device.

In an embodiment, the gaming system includes a monitoring module formonitoring the game device.

In a second aspect, the invention provides a gaming device for a gamingsystem including a bonus controller, the gaming device arranged to:

-   -   receive at least one game parameter specifies at least one game        round; and    -   provide an award to a player of the gaming device by conducting        each at least one game round specified by the at least one game        parameter to determine a game outcome without requiring a        further bet to be placed by the player.

In an embodiment, the gaming device includes a game controller.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes a bonus controllerinterface for receiving the at least one game parameter.

In an embodiment, the game controller includes a bonus module arrangedto conduct the at least one game round specified by the at least onegame parameter.

In an embodiment, the gaming device includes a player interfaceincluding a display for displaying game outcomes.

In an embodiment, the at least one game parameter includes a number ofgame rounds.

In an embodiment, the at least one game parameter includes a game type.

In an embodiment, at least one game parameter includes at least one betparameter.

In an embodiment, the gaming device is arranged to advise a bonuscontroller when all game rounds specified by the game parameters havebeen completed.

In an embodiment, the gaming device is arranged to advise the bonuscontroller of at least one outcome of all game rounds.

In an embodiment, the at least one outcome includes at least one of acost of the game rounds and an amount of credits won during the gamerounds.

In an embodiment, the gaming device includes a promotional meter andcredits spent during the game rounds are recorded as promotional creditswhereby any win amounts awarded as the award do not affect the gamingdevices return to player.

In an embodiment, the game outcomes are provided to a further externaldevice.

In a third aspect, the invention provides a bonus controller for agaming system including at least one game device, the bonus controllerarranged to:

-   -   make an award having at least one associated game parameter        which specifies at least one game round;    -   communicate the game parameters to a gaming device in data        communication with the bonus controller, whereafter the gaming        device can provide the award to a player of the gaming device by        conducting each at least one game round specified by the game        parameters to determine a game outcome without requiring a        further bet to be placed by the player.

In an embodiment, the bonus controller is arranged to monitor the gamingdevice and determine whether to make the award based on game play on thegaming device.

In an embodiment, the bonus controller includes a monitoring modulearranged to monitor the gaming device and determine whether to make theaward based on game play on the gaming device.

In an embodiment, the bonus controller includes an award module arrangedto make the award.

In an embodiment, the award module is arranged to determine the at leastone game parameter.

In an embodiment, the at least one game parameter includes a number ofgame rounds.

In an embodiment, the at least one game parameter includes a game type.

In an embodiment, at least one game parameter includes at least one betparameter.

In an embodiment, the bonus controller is arranged to determine the atleast one bet parameter from at least one prior bet made on the gamingdevice.

In an embodiment, the at least one bet parameter is determined from abet made on an immediate past game played on the gaming device.

In an embodiment, the at least one bet parameter is determined from betsmade on a plurality of games played on the gaming device.

In a fourth aspect, the invention provides a method of gaming,including:

-   -   making an award at a bonus controller, the award having at least        one associated game parameter which specifies at least one game        round;    -   communicating the game parameters of the award to a gaming        device in data communication with the bonus controller; and    -   providing the award to a player of the gaming device by        conducting each at least one game round specified by the game        parameters to determine a game outcome without requiring a        further bet to be placed by the player.

In an embodiment, the at least one game parameter includes a number ofgame rounds.

In an embodiment, the at least one game parameter includes a game type.

In an embodiment, at least one game parameter includes at least one betparameter.

In an embodiment, the method includes determining the at least one betparameter from at least one prior bet made on the gaming device.

In an embodiment, the method includes determining the at least one betparameter from a bet made on an immediate past game played on the gamingdevice.

In an embodiment, the method includes determining the at least one betparameter from bets made on a plurality of games played on the gamingdevice.

In an embodiment, the method includes advising the bonus controller whenall game rounds specified by the game parameters have been completed.

In an embodiment, the method includes advising the bonus controller ofat least one outcome of all game rounds.

In an embodiment, the at least one outcome includes at least one of acost of the game rounds and an amount of credits won during the gamerounds.

In an embodiment, the method includes recording credits spent during thegame rounds of the bonus award as promotional credits whereby any winamounts awarded as the award do not affect the gaming devices return toplayer.

In an embodiment, the method includes providing the game outcomes to afurther external device.

In an embodiment, the method includes monitoring the gaming device anddetermine whether to make the award based on game play on the gamingdevice.

In a fifth aspect, the invention provides computer program code whichwhen executed implements the above method.

In a sixth aspect the invention provides a computer readable mediumincluding the program code.

In a seventh aspect, the invention provides a data signal including theabove program code.

In an eighth aspect, the invention extends to transmitting the aboveprogram code.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a gaming system.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a gaming device in the form of a standalone gaming machine.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of the functional components of a gamingmachine.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the functional components of a memory.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a bonus controller.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a gaming device according to an embodiment.

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofcertain embodiments of the present invention, will be better understoodwhen read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose ofillustrating the invention, certain embodiments are shown in thedrawings. It should be understood, however, that the present inventionis not limited to the arrangements and instrumentality shown in theattached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a gaming system arranged toimplement a bonus controller adapted to make an award to any one or moreof a plurality of gaming devices to which it is connected. The award isimplemented by the gaming device carrying out one or more game roundsspecified by parameters sent to the gaming device.

General System Configuration

In the gaming system configuration 100, a bonus controller 110 is indata communication with a plurality of gaming devices 120 over a network130. A person skilled in the art will also appreciate that otherconfigurations may be viable. For example, the gaming devices could beconnected in a peer-to-peer arrangement with the bonus controllerexecuted by one of the gaming devices. Alternatively a dedicated bonuscontroller may be provided for each gaming device.

Gaming Devices

Herein, the term gaming device is used to refer to any device used by aplayer to a play a game and specifically includes stand alone gamingmachines and interactive video terminals which implement games in aclient/server architecture.

A gaming device in the form of a stand alone gaming machine 10 isillustrated in FIG. 2. The gaming machine 10 includes a console 12having a display 14 on which is displayed representations of a game 16that can be played by a player. A mid-trim 20 of the gaming machine 10houses a bank of buttons 22 for enabling a player to interact with thegaming machine, in particular during game play. The mid-trim 20 alsohouses a credit input mechanism 24 which in this example includes a coininput chute 24A and a bill collector 24B. Other credit input mechanismsmay also be employed, for example, a card reader for reading a smartcard, debit card or credit card. A player marketing module comprising areading device may also be provided for the purpose of reading a playertracking device, for example as part of a loyalty program. The playertracking device may be in the form of a card, flash drive or any otherportable storage medium capable of being read by the reading device.

A top box 26 may carry artwork 28, including for example pay tables anddetails of bonus awards and other information or images relating to thegame. Further artwork and/or information may be provided on a frontpanel 29 of the console 12. A coin tray 30 is mounted beneath the frontpanel 29 for dispensing cash payouts from the gaming machine 10.

The display 14 shown in FIG. 2 is in the form of a video display unit,particularly a cathode ray tube screen device. Alternatively, thedisplay 14 may be a liquid crystal display, plasma screen, any othersuitable video display unit, or the visible portion of anelectromechanical device. The top box 26 may also include a display, forexample a video display unit, which may be of the same type as thedisplay 14, or of a different type.

FIG. 3 shows a block diagram of operative components of a typical gamingmachine which may be the same as or different to the gaming machine ofFIG. 2.

The gaming machine 300 includes a game controller 301 having a processor302. Instructions and data to control operation of the processor 302 arestored in a memory 303, which is in data communication with theprocessor 302. Typically, the gaming machine 300 will include bothvolatile and non-volatile memory and more than one of each type ofmemory, with such memories being collectively represented by the memory303.

The gaming machine has hardware meters 304 for purposes includingensuring regulatory compliance and monitoring player credit, aninput/output (I/O) interface 305 for communicating with peripheraldevices of the gaming machine 300. The input/output interface 305 and/orthe peripheral devices may be intelligent devices with their own memoryfor storing associated instructions and data for use with theinput/output interface or the peripheral devices. A random numbergenerator module 313 generates random numbers for use by the processor302. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the reference torandom numbers includes pseudo-random numbers.

In the example shown in FIG. 3, a player interface 320 includesperipheral devices that communicate with the game controller 301including one or more displays 306, a touch screen and/or buttons 307, acard and/or ticket reader 308, a printer 309, a bill acceptor and/orcoin input mechanism 310 and a coin output mechanism 311. Additionalhardware may be included as part of the gaming machine 300, or hardwaremay be omitted depending upon the specific implementation.

In addition, the gaming machine 300 may include a communicationsinterface, for example a network card 312. The network card may, forexample, send status information, accounting information or otherinformation to a central controller, server or database and receive dataor commands from the central controller, server or database.

FIG. 4 shows a block diagram of the main components of an exemplarymemory 303. The memory 303 includes RAM 303A, EPROM 303B and a massstorage device 303C. The RAM 303A typically temporarily holds programfiles for execution by the processor 302 and related data. The EPROM303B may be a boot ROM device and/or may contain some system or gamerelated code. The mass storage device 303C is typically used to storegame programs, the integrity of which may be verified and/orauthenticated by the processor 302 using protected code from the EPROM303B or elsewhere.

It is also possible for the operative components of the gaming machine300 to be distributed, for example input/output devices306,307,308,309,310,311 to be provided remotely from the game controller301.

A gaming device as indicated above may also take the form of aclient/server architecture where a portion of the game is executed onthe client and a portion of the game is executed on the server. In suchembodiments, the client typically takes the form of an interactive videoterminal which has a similar outward appearance to the gaming machinedescribed above. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that thetype of gaming device that is employed is not important to the presentinvention.

The bonus controller 500 is connected to gaming devices by a deviceinterface 540 and contains a monitoring module 510 for monitoring gameplay on one or more game devices to determine based on trigger data 560when to provide an award to a gaming machine. The criteria for thesystem triggering the bonus feature can be based on a number of criteriaincluding a random trigger, time-based, activity based, player promotionoutcome, progressive jackpot outcome or a combination thereof. In oneadvantageous embodiment, the bonus controller 500 is arranged to make anaward to the player when the player has a sequence of consecutive losinggames.

When the monitoring module 510 determines that a trigger condition isbeing met, it advises award module 520 which consults award data 530 todetermine what award should be made to the player. The award module hasa parameter module 525 for communicating parameters to the gaming devicevia device interface 540 in order to implement the award.

In an embodiment, the bonus controller 500 is arranged to trigger aspecial feature game within the game offered on the gaming device.Accordingly, sending the game parameters to the gaming device indicatesthat the bonus feature should be started at an appropriate juncture. Thegame parameters specify the characteristics of at least one game roundand typically also specifies the number of game rounds to be provided tothe player. The parameters may also specify other factors, for example,the type of credits to be provided to the player such as promotionalcredits. Accordingly, when the bonus trigger feature is triggered in afree-spin embodiment, the gaming machine carries out the free game. Tothis end, as shown in the functional block diagram of FIG. 6, a gamingdevice having a player interface 50 having a credit mechanism 52, adisplay 54 and an instruction input mechanism 56 in data communicationwith the game controller 60. The game controller has a processor 62 thatimplements a series of modules based on data stored in memory 64. Aperson skilled in the art will appreciate that other arrangements arepossible.

In this embodiment the processor implements a bonus interface module 624arranged to receive game parameters from the device interface 540 of thebonus controller 500. Once the game parameters are received, the bonusmodule 625 stores the game parameters as system bonus data 643 andmonitors for an appropriate point in game play to initiate the feature.For example, the conclusion of a game. The bonus module then implementsa series of free spins specified by the game parameters, for example 10free spins. It does this by controlling the symbol selectors to selectusing random number generator 621, symbols from symbol data 641. Thegame outcome is determined for each game round by outcome determiner 623based on game/prize data 642. The current status of the bonus award isstored in the system bonus data—e.g. to keep track of the number ofremaining game rounds that form part of the award defined by the gameparameters. The game outcomes are displayed on the display 54 undercontrol of the display controller 626. The cost of providing the bonusgame is stored as cost data 644, for example, to keep track of thenumber of promotional credits used by the gaming machine and anyassociated awards made to the player.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variationsmay be made to the invention. For example, the gaming device may beconnected to a progressive jackpot such as a hyperlink system eventhough the electronic gaming machine is not a hyperlink gaming device.The triggered bonus feature could be a hyperlink reel spin feature or apick a box feature. Thus, during such a feature the player will interactto stop hyperlink reels or pick boxes.

In another example, the bonus feature outcome generates an event toexternal progressive jackpot system. The feature outcome determines thetype of the event generated for example the jackpot level 1. The playergets paid based on the win.

In a further embodiment, the outcome may be reported to a promotionalsystem and the promotional system may determine an award based on theoutcome of the feature. That is the outcome may determine the number ofpromotional points to add to our player loyalty system.

A person skilled in the art will appreciate that there are number ofbenefits in the invention. For example the bonus feature does not affectthe gaming devices return to player percentage. Further it does notrequire the payment of promotional wins back to the gaming device by thesystem.

An advantage of the present system is that awards can be made to playerswho are not participating in the loyalty system or who do not have theirtracking card insert. A further advantage is that the award,particularly where it takes the form of a special bonus feature, is moreclosely tied into the game play occurring on the gaming machine so thatit is possible to apply tighter controls on how the player experiencesthe award and make the award more interesting.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the bonus module 625 cangenerate a report to the bonus controller 500 on the cost of thefeature.

Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the game parameters canvary from embodiment to embodiment. For example the gaming parameterscan determine the type of bonus feature, for example, free spins, anumber of free spins, features such as repeat game play, max bet, maxlines, max bet per line and or the duration to wait for the next game.Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that parameters can bederived from the past play on the gaming device. For example, the bettype and bet amount for the plurality of gaming rounds can be determinedby the monitoring module 510 based on the average bet amount and numberof win lines from the player's losing streak for which the bonuscontroller has triggered the awards. In a similar example, theparameters could be based on the last play of the gaming machine. Inthis example, the bonus controller does not need to know the nature ofthe last bet—e.g. the bonus controller can control the gaming machine toimplement a plurality of games based on the last bet by instructing itto implement the last bet in respect of the free games or the gamingdevice can be configured such that when it receives game parameters fromthe bonus controller it always implements the last bet.

Persons skilled in the art, will appreciate that in other embodiments,the player may place a bet by selecting a number of reels to play and anamount to bet per reel. Such games are marketed under the trade name“Reel Power” by Aristocrat Leisure Industries Pty Ltd. The selection ofthe reel means that each symbol of the reel can be substituted for asymbol at one or more designated display positions. In other words, allsymbol positions of a selected reel can be used to form symbolcombinations with designated, displayed symbol positions of other reels.Accordingly, the bonus controller may specify a number of reels to beplayed by means of the game parameters, that is the game parameters caninclude a bet parameter specifying the nature of the bet.

Persons skilled in the art will also appreciate that the method of theembodiment could be embodied in program code. The program code could besupplied in a number of ways, for example on a computer readable medium,such as a disc or a memory (for example, that could replace part ofmemory 103) or as a data signal (for example, by downloading it from aserver).

It will be understood to persons skilled in the art of the inventionthat many modifications may be made without departing from the spiritand scope of the invention, in particular it will be apparent thatcertain features of embodiments of the invention can be employed to formfurther embodiments.

It is to be understood that, if any prior art is referred to herein,such reference does not constitute an admission that the prior art formsa part of the common general knowledge in the art in any country.

In the claims which follow and in the preceding description of theinvention, except where the context indicates otherwise due to expresslanguage or necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variationssuch as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an inclusive sense, i.e.to specify the presence of the stated features but not to preclude thepresence or addition of further features in various embodiments of theinvention.

It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerousvariations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown inthe specific embodiments without departing from the spirit or scope ofthe invention as broadly described. The present embodiments are,therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive.

Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings.These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments thatimplement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention.However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construedas imposing on the invention any limitations associated with featuresshown in the drawings. The present invention contemplates methods,systems and program products on any electronic device and/ormachine-readable media suitable for accomplishing its operations. Asnoted above, certain embodiments of the present invention may beimplemented using an existing computer processor and/or by a specialpurpose computer processor incorporated for this or another purpose orby a hardwired system, for example.

As noted above, embodiments within the scope of the present inventioninclude program products comprising machine-readable media for carryingor having machine-executable instructions or data structures storedthereon. Such machine-readable media can be any available media that canbe accessed by a general purpose or special purpose computer or othermachine with a processor. By way of example, such machine-readable mediamay comprise RAM, ROM, PROM, EPROM, EEPROM, Flash, CD-ROM or otheroptical disk storage, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storagedevices, or any other medium which can be used to carry or store desiredprogram code in the form of machine-executable instructions or datastructures and which can be accessed by a general purpose or specialpurpose computer or other machine with a processor. When information istransferred or provided over a network or another communicationsconnection (either hardwired, wireless, or a combination of hardwired orwireless) to a machine, the machine properly views the connection as amachine-readable medium. Thus, any such a connection is properly termeda machine-readable medium. Combinations of the above are also includedwithin the scope of machine-readable media. Machine-executableinstructions comprise, for example, instructions and data which cause ageneral purpose computer, special purpose computer, or special purposeprocessing machines to perform a certain function or group of functions.

Certain embodiments of the invention are described in the generalcontext of method steps which may be implemented in one embodiment by aprogram product including machine-executable instructions, such asprogram code, for example in the form of program modules executed bymachines in networked environments. Generally, program modules includeroutines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., thatperform particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types.Machine-executable instructions, associated data structures, and programmodules represent examples of program code for executing steps of themethods disclosed herein. The particular sequence of such executableinstructions or associated data structures represents examples ofcorresponding acts for implementing the functions described in suchsteps.

1. A gaming system comprising: a bonus controller arranged to make anaward, the award having at least one associated game parameter whichspecifies at least one game round; and a gaming device in datacommunication with the bonus controller, the gaming device adapted toreceive the game parameters and to provide the award to a player of thegaming device by conducting each at least one game round specified bythe at least one game parameter to determine a game outcome withoutrequiring a further bet to be placed by the player.
 2. A gaming systemas claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one game parameter includesa number of game rounds.
 3. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1,wherein the at least one game parameter includes a game type.
 4. Agaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one game parametercomprises at least one bet parameter.
 5. A gaming system as claimed inclaim 4, wherein the at least one bet parameter is determined from atleast one prior bet made on the gaming device.
 6. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one bet parameter is determinedfrom a bet made on an immediate past game played on the gaming device.7. A gaming system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one betparameter is determined from bets made on a plurality of games played onthe gaming device.
 8. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein thegaming device is arranged to advise the bonus controller when all gamerounds specified by the game parameters have been completed.
 9. A gamingsystem as claimed in claim 8, wherein the gaming device advises thebonus controller of at least one outcome of all game rounds.
 10. Agaming system as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one outcomeincludes at least one of a cost of the game rounds and an amount ofcredits won during the game rounds.
 11. A gaming system as claimed inclaim 1, wherein the gaming device comprises a promotional meter andcredits spent during the game rounds are recorded as promotional creditswhereby any win amounts awarded as the award do not affect the gamingdevices return to player.
 12. A gaming system as claimed in claim 1,wherein the game outcomes are provided to a further external device. 13.A gaming system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the further externaldevice is a jackpot controller and the game outcomes are used todetermine a jackpot outcome.
 14. A gaming system as claimed in claim 12,wherein the further external device is a player loyalty system.
 15. Agaming system as claimed in claim 1, comprising a plurality of gamingdevices, each in data communication with the bonus controller.
 16. Agaming system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bonus controller isarranged to monitor the gaming device and determine whether to make theaward based on game play on the gaming device.
 17. A gaming system asclaimed in claim 15 comprising a monitoring module for monitoring thegame device.
 18. A gaming device for a gaming system comprising a bonuscontroller, the gaming device arranged to: receive at least one gameparameter specifies at least one game round; and provide an award to aplayer of the gaming device by conducting each at least one game roundspecified by the at least one game parameter to determine a game outcomewithout requiring a further bet to be placed by the player.
 19. A gamingdevice as claimed in claim 18 comprising a game controller.
 20. A gamingdevice as claimed in claim 19 wherein the game controller comprises abonus controller interface for receiving the at least one gameparameter.
 21. A gaming device as claimed in claim 19 wherein the gamecontroller comprises a bonus module arranged to conduct the at least onegame round specified by the at least one game parameter.
 22. A gamingdevice as claimed in claim 18 comprising a player interface comprising adisplay for displaying game outcomes.
 23. A gaming device as claimed inclaim 18, wherein the at least one game parameter includes a number ofgame rounds.
 24. A gaming device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the atleast one game parameter includes a game type.
 25. A gaming device asclaimed in claim 18, wherein at least one game parameter comprises atleast one bet parameter.
 26. A gaming device as claimed in claim 18,wherein the gaming device is arranged to advise a bonus controller whenall game rounds specified by the game parameters have been completed.27. A gaming device as claimed in claim 26, wherein the gaming device isarranged to advise the bonus controller of at least one outcome of allgame rounds.
 28. A gaming device as claimed in claim 27, wherein the atleast one outcome includes at least one of a cost of the game rounds andan amount of credits won during the game rounds.
 29. A gaming device asclaimed in claim 18, comprising a promotional meter and credits spentduring the game rounds are recorded as promotional credits whereby anywin amounts awarded as the award do not affect the gaming devices returnto player.
 30. A gaming device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the gameoutcomes are provided to a further external device.
 31. A bonuscontroller for a gaming system comprising at least one game device, thebonus controller arranged to: make an award having at least oneassociated game parameter which specifies at least one game round;communicate the game parameters to a gaming device in data communicationwith the bonus controller, whereafter the gaming device can provide theaward to a player of the gaming device by conducting each at least onegame round specified by the game parameters to determine a game outcomewithout requiring a further bet to be placed by the player.
 32. A bonuscontroller as claimed in claim 31 arranged to monitor the gaming deviceand determine whether to make the award based on game play on the gamingdevice.
 33. A bonus controller as claimed in claim 32, comprising amonitoring module arranged to monitor the gaming device and determinewhether to make the award based on game play on the gaming device.
 34. Abonus controller as claimed in claim 31, comprising an award modulearranged to make the award.
 35. A bonus controller as claimed in claim34, wherein the award module is arranged to determine the at least onegame parameter.
 36. A bonus controller as claimed in claim 31, whereinthe at least one game parameter includes a number of game rounds.
 37. Abonus controller as claimed in claim 31, wherein the at least one gameparameter includes a game type.
 38. A bonus controller as claimed inclaim 31, wherein at least one game parameter comprises at least one betparameter.
 39. A bonus controller as claimed in claim 38, arranged todetermine the at least one bet parameter from at least one prior betmade on the gaming device.
 40. A bonus controller as claimed in claim39, wherein the at least one bet parameter is determined from a bet madeon an immediate past game played on the gaming device.
 41. A bonuscontroller as claimed in claim 39, wherein the at least one betparameter is determined from bets made on a plurality of games played onthe gaming device.
 42. A method of gaming, comprising: making an awardat a bonus controller, the award having at least one associated gameparameter which specifies at least one game round; communicating thegame parameters of the award to a gaming device in data communicationwith the bonus controller; and providing the award to a player of thegaming device by conducting each at least one game round specified bythe game parameters to determine a game outcome without requiring afurther bet to be placed by the player.
 43. A method as claimed in claim42, wherein the at least one game parameter includes a number of gamerounds.
 44. A method as claimed in claim 42, wherein the at least onegame parameter includes a game type.
 45. A method as claimed in claim42, wherein at least one game parameter comprises at least one betparameter.
 46. A method as claimed in claim 45, comprising determiningthe at least one bet parameter from at least one prior bet made on thegaming device.
 47. A method as claimed in claim 46, comprisingdetermining the at least one bet parameter from a bet made on animmediate past game played on the gaming device.
 48. A method as claimedin claim 46, comprising determining the at least one bet parameter frombets made on a plurality of games played on the gaming device.
 49. Amethod as claimed in claim 42, comprising advising the bonus controllerwhen all game rounds specified by the game parameters have beencompleted.
 50. A method as claimed in claim 49, comprising advising thebonus controller of at least one outcome of all game rounds.
 51. Amethod as claimed in claim 50, wherein the at least one outcome includesat least one of a cost of the game rounds and an amount of credits wonduring the game rounds.
 52. A method as claimed in claim 42, recordingcredits spent during the game rounds of the bonus award as promotionalcredits whereby any win amounts awarded as the award do not affect thegaming devices return to player.
 53. A method as claimed in claim 42,comprising providing the game outcomes to a further external device. 54.A method as claimed in claim 42, comprising monitoring the gaming deviceand determine whether to make the award based on game play on the gamingdevice.
 55. A computer readable medium comprising computer program codewhich when executed implements the method of claim 42.